Celebrating Hanukkah: Easy and Stylish Jewish Holiday Ideas

All holidays benefit from stylish shortcuts and Hanukkah is no exception. Celebrate the Festival of Lights with these easy holiday decorating ideas and stress-free recipe suggestions.

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Kid-Friendly Dreidel Garland

Dress the staircase with a colorful dreidel garland – a kid-friendly craft the family will enjoy making together. You'll need scrapbooking paper, pencils, scissors, stencils and glue. String shapes on clear craft or fishing line and tie ends onto a staircase banister. The garland also adds a festive holiday touch to decorative shelves or the mantel.

Festival of Lights Invitations

Scrapbooking paper is the perfect medium to create Star of David cards or dinner invitations. Fold blue paper in half. Trim to size using scissors or a paper cutter. Cut two additional pieces of paper (dark blue and white) to layer on the front cover. Punch the corners of the dark blue paper with a decorative puncher; trim the edges of the white paper with edger scissors. Using glue stick and positioning to allow space for text, adhere a Star of David, cut from plain paper, to the dark blue paper. Glue dark blue paper to white paper; glue white paper to front cover. Add glitter, sequins or other embellishments. Add text with a glitter gel pen.

Festive Paper Menorah Tablecloth

The buffet table is elegantly topped with sheer linen and embellished with a paper menorah. To make the menorah, download this pattern and cut coordinating pieces of paper to add dimension and color. Attach the menorah to the linen fabric with scrapbook glue-dots. Winter daylight passes through the gauzy fabric, revealing a silhouette effect.

Chocolate Gelt Name Cards

Replace traditional place cards with white salt cellars. Fill each dip with gelt coins and place a name sticker on the front side to direct guests to their seats at the dinner table.

Colorful Paper Dreidel

Cream-colored dinner plates offer quiet relief for colorful paper dreidels. To make, cut and trim scrapbook paper, then decorate the design with strips of patterned paper. Number the back of each dreidel with a number that corresponds to a small token gift for the evening.

Quick and Easy Potato Latke

Food prep shortcuts mean extra time to set the table and craft some special decorations. Traditional potato latkes are made with frozen shredded potato, which saves time and the accompanying "risks" that accompany using a hand grater.

Braised Coca-Cola Beef Brisket

Dazzle your dinner guests with a main course masterpiece. Braised brisket is made more tender and sweet with the addition of Coca-Cola and tomatoes added to the marinade.

Star of David Cupcakes

Round out your celebration with an easy, delicious dessert. Nestle cupcakes in unique serving vessels like julep cups or pewter drinking glasses. Ice each with blue frosting. To make easy edible star embellishments, melt white chocolate and spoon into a sandwich bag  with the tip of one corner cut  and pipe the star shape on top of each cupcake.

Celebrating with Jelly Donuts

Store-bought jelly donuts are easily heated in the oven and tossed in fine sugar for a final flourish. Serve immediately for instant applause.

Great food, beautiful decorations and place settings, and treasured guests add up to a special Hanukkah celebration  one that honors the significance of the holiday and helps create lasting memories for all.